Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-06
A Brave Little Woman.


German couple, with little money and
lots OF love, started bravely and deter
mlnedly forth to make q fortune tor
themselves in the rich Crescent CITY.
The husband, a master siiYeramith aud
JeWeler, having learned his trade thor
ouShly In the old country, felt no anxiety
in setting up business among the wealthy
planter princes OF the South. Men were
lavish and women luxurious in those
days, consequently precious stonessAnd
costly work in gold and silver were
rapidly disposed of in the small shop,
leaving always handsome profit In the
cash drawer. Three children came, and
such prosperity and happiness with them
that 1t seemed every loophole was Sc
cured against the possible inroads of mis-
fortune.
1t was during one of the long, hot sum-
mers Of the sixties that the deadly
scourage. yellow fever, swept over the
country, fastening itself with yirulence
ana tenaclty on this city That threatened
to destroy 1t. Men unable to leave their
business hurried those dear to them far
OF for safety. Mr.. Haussman was of this
number. Finding 1t impossible to go
himself, he sent his wife and babies to
the country, staying to brave the pesti-
lence alone. Every day a letter came to
the anxious woman, full of encourage
ment. Never word that limited of ILL
ness or danger till the telegram arrived
saying it was all over, and that to save
her he had forbidden his critical con-
dition should be written OF, dying quietly,
without murmur, so his loved ones
might be shielded.
Nothing could have been more pitiful
than the young wife's position. Not I'M
derstandlng one word OF English, with
out a relation on whom to depend, and
her affairs In the hands of strangers, she
had to stay away three months, not dar-
ing to return to the city for fear of con-
tagion. Fortunately, courageous
mother and naturally plucky woman is a
creature next to impossible to crush.
therefore Mrs. Theresa Haussman proved
herself the oOnqueror of circumstances,
winning a brilliant victory over adj
Versity.
She began by buying a newspaper every
morning and spelling it through faith
| fully from beginning to end. She found
that in q few months time her knowledge
| oil the English language was sufficient for
| ordinary trading. BY reducing her hus-
bands thriving business one-half she was
able to begin free of debt, on a small scale.
Although hiring a bookkeeper, she studied
| accounts enough to understand exactly
how finances should be conducted, and
gave every department her constant
supervision. From the factory to the
counter everything was conducted and
| directed by the owner herself. She trav-
! eIed to New York entirely alone, making
the necessary purchases for the shop, con-
Tossing, at the same time, that this re-
! spOnslbility was the cause OF a severe
| illness.
mo one will ever know" the quiet.
gentle lady added, show hard it was at
first. My children away at school, had
| to fight every battle unaided, and heaven
alone knows where l ever found strength
to live through the long days of blank de-
spair and fear that would take possession
OF me. While meeting with much kind
ness, there were numbers of unscrupu.
lOus persons who strove to injure me in
| hundred different ways. Now, when the
unhappy past is put away, and have a
fine, strong son to lean upon, look back
| wonderingly and think was it all true?
or course, like every one else," she con-
cluded, 81 complain now and then OF hard
| times; but when business comes get my
share, and with my three grown children
| round me l can't but ieel the worst OF life
| is over"
In her pretty shop filled with bric-a.
| brac, gllttering on all sides with rich Sill
| VerWare and with jewels shining through
| the clear glass cases, Mrs. Haussman sits
the happy, contented woman, and one of
| whom her sex may well feel proud. Every
| a women are left helpless and unpro-
tected in this world, but few are found
equal to fighting through trouble and mis-.
fortune to the plane of dignlfied independ-
ence this German widow occupies. She
is an example of all that courage and a
stout, brave heart can do, though giant
despair himself stands in the way.